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Wasps would let George Smith go to Wallabies

Alex Lowe

July 4 2015, 1:01am, The Times

Smith would miss three Wasps fixtures if he is called up to play for AustraliaMatt KIng/Getty Images

Wasps will not stand in the way of George Smith playing in the World Cup if the veteran flanker, who signed for the Aviva Premiership club when he was ineligible for Australia duty, wins an international recall.

Michael Cheika, the Wallabies coach, has a rich stock of open-side flankers at his disposal in David Pocock, Michael Hooper and Liam Gill but he views Smith, who won the last of his 111 caps against the Lions in 2013, as a potential No 8.

When Wasps signed the 34-year-old, the Australian Rugby Union was still operating its policy of not selecting overseas-based players but that stance was relaxed in April, opening the way for Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell to be selected from Toulon for the Rugby…